Is it ‘have’ or ‘had’ breast cancer?

I recall seeing something early on about support for fuel expenses, which I’ve just realised was only two weeks ago 😁. Thank you for the link.

You are sooo lucky living in that part of the world. Over the years, we’ve had many a family holiday up your way but they’ve been very rare in the last ten years or so. Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to head your way once all of this is behind us and we can meet up for that coffee AND CAKE! 😄💕

SYLV1E​  ... a belated welcome to the group too xx. The one Club, that NO-ONE ever thought they'd be joining!

I am so sorry to see you joining our select little group  …. everyone remembers the shock of hearing the ‘diagnosis:  “You've got breast cancer” ..... Causing sadness, distress and even anger.  It really mucks with your brain, sometimes even more than your body!  It is highly stressful & upsetting in the early days of diagnosis - so if you feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, give the Helpline a bell on 1800 500 258 for a confidential chat with one of the Mods xx.

Make sure you take a trusted friend or relative with you to your meetings from now on & also consider recording them too, on your phone xx. It is almost impossible to remember everything that is said & this way you can go back over it in the quiet of your home & take notes. xx

Also, Consider listening to Charlotte Tottman's Podcasts on her own experience with BC - as she explains it all very well xx  She is a specialist breast cancer Counsellor who had a double mastectomy following her own diagnosis, choosing to stay flat. She was surprised at her own reaction to the news/surgery/treatment, as she'd been counseling others for many years & thought she 'knew it all'! 

She has done 2 ‘podcast seasons' ... check out the 1st season, right from her diagnosis onwards and how she coped, then move on to the 2nd season. She is very easy to listen to & you'll probably recognise your own reactions in many of the podcasts. 

http://www.drcharlottetottman.com.au/my-podcast.html

Check out this thread too - there is a lot of info on the forum & what to take with you to hospital - even 'tick sheets' that you can fill in to take with you to your appointments on your mental & physical health .... this info has been gleaned from many of our members over the years ... I hope it helps you xx
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

take care & all the best

Oh dear, I think that would be my brother throwing up. He faints at just the thought of a needle. 😂 Men?!
The MRI is quite easy. I’ve had them before on my lumbar spine and my brain (and yes they did find one). First question my brother asked. 

For those scans you’re lying on your back so you are aware of how cramped it is inside which can be daunting if you’re a bit claustrophobic.

For the breast MRI’s, or at least for mine, you’re lying on your stomach so you’re not aware of the lack of size. It’s a bit like laying on a massage table with your forehead resting on the cushioned bit. The fun part is the two circles that are for your breasts to hang loose in. 😂 Defintely no elegant way to do that, but the ladies there will guide you all of the way through to get you in position but it’s much more comfortable than a mammogram.

The machine is noisy but they give you headphones and if you’re lucky you’ll get music through them but it’s still noisy.

i have an essential tremor that always comes on at inconvenient times so of course it started up midway through. I’ve recently read somewhere that for essential tremor, you can lesson it by doing something that required brain power like mathematics. Well, I’m not great with mathematics at the best of times so I was singing to myself, in my head, the Inch Worm Song,. 😄

One and one is two, two and two are four etc etc. That helped but got a bit boring after about ten rounds so I started counting backwards from 37. Not sure why I chose 37, it just seemed a good place to start. My tremors eased as I was doing the counting and adding up and by then it was all finished.

If this is your very first time in an MRI machine, I suggest you ask them if they can show you all around it, one end to the other, and for them to explain everything that’s going to happen. They would much prefer spending time with you before you start rather than have you having a panic attack midway through.

Anyway, best of luck and please let me know how you go.. And I’m sorry (not sorry😂) if you now have the Inch Worm song as an ear worm for the rest of the day. 😁. xo